Once you have seen this fabulous production from Glyndebourne
Opera, it will be very difficult to imagine the opera performed in any other
way. For a start every singer looks exactly like the character you imagine from
the story. They are so right in age and appearance that you would probably have
settled for something less than vocal perfection - though here you also have
that. Even the disguise of the two young men is just about enough to fool the
two females, while the manipulating Alfonso and his willing accomplice, Despina,
keep on the right side of exaggerating the humour. Add to this a brightly lit
and visually attractive set, and a 'traditional' direction from Nicholas Hytner
that keeps the action clean and uncluttered, and you have a performance in a
million. To pick singers for special mention would be misleading, for, as so
often at Glyndebourne, this is a team that has been brought together with the
luxury of working in adequate rehearsal time. I must confess I had not thought
of Ivan Fischer as a major Mozart conductor, but he keeps the action moving
to perfection, while the period instrument orchestra is sheer delight. Camera
work is unobtrusive and takes us close in only when required. The obligatory
subtitles give four languages to add to the Italian of the production, and the
sound quality is superb. This is not an option but a requirement of any opera
collection.